Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873), Victroia and Albert Museum, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
William Windham MP was appalled at the idea of levying a tax on man’s best friend.
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© Alan Murray-Rust, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Businessmen in Liverpool engaged George Stephenson to build one of his new-fangled railways.
By John Simpson (1782–1847), Art Institute of Chicago, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
William Wilberforce told Parliament that the more his opponents slandered him, the more he was sure he was winning.
By Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656) or his circle, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Conspiracies and dynastic expectations swirled around James I’s daughter from the age of nine.
© Сайт Новгородской епархии (website of the Eparchy of Velikiy Novgorod). Used with permission.
It started as an honest mistake, became a diplomatic standoff, and brought down an Empire.
By Henry Treffry Dunn (1838-1899), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Dr Watson is looking for rooms in London, and an old colleague suggests someone who might be able to help him.